(From Cincinnati Commercial Tribune July 21, 1883)
“Coal Oil Johnny” Killed.
Tragic End of One of the Most Notorious Swindlers in the Country.
Shot by His Jealous Wife.
A Bagnio in Terre Haute the Scene of the Killing—Local Experience of John and Sadie Hall—The Climax of a Life of Crime.
Special to the Commercial Gazette.
Terre Haute, Ind., July 20 – The city was startled this morning by a report that another unprovoked murder had been added to the list of crimes enacted here. The murder took place just after daylight this morning, in a Second street bagnio run by Aggie Roland, and possesses much of a sensational nature.
John B. Hall, a street vender, possessed of a number of aliases, but better known by the sobriquet of “Coal Oil Johnny,” was the victim of the crime committed by his wife, who found him occupying a room with one Maud Hunter, an inmate of the house. Hall and his wife had quarreled during the day, and when he closed up his day’s business, instead of returning to his rooms at the St. Charles Hotel, he started out on a spree. He finally wound up at 2 o’clock this morning by retiring at Roland’s house. His wife started out in search of him, and, in a hack, made a tour of the open saloons, but did not find him. She heard about 3 o’clock of his visit to Roland’s, and with the hack driver entered the house, representing to the driver that her husband had a large amount of money on his person, which she feared he would lose. After a number of inquiries regarding accommodations for the night, she inquired if a certain friend of hers was at the house, describing her husband as the friend. Learning that he was, she asked to see him, and was conducted to the door of his room. She knocked, and was admitted by the Hunter girl. Entering the room, she found her husband asleep in bed. She walked to his side, and after gazing at him in silence turned as if to leave. Lying on a bureau at the head of the bed was revolver, which Hall placed there after retiring. She saw it, and seizing the weapon, she pointed it full at the breast of the sleeping man and fired. The ball lodged in the right breast, producing instant death. The shock threw the body to the floor, the head and shoulders under the bed. Not a word had been spoken, and the shooting had taken place so unexpectedly that neither of the three witnesses could have interfered.
Mrs. Hall gave herself up, and has engaged attorneys for her defense and they refuse to allow her to be interviews or to testify at the Coroner’s inquest. This evening she regrets the deed, and acts as if partly insane.
The murdered man was noted as one of the most expert bunko steerers and confidence men of the day, and had traveled under a number of aliases. His mother lives in St. Joseph, Mo., and she was notified of his death.
John B. Hall, a street vender, possessed of a number of aliases, but better known by the sobriquet of “Coal Oil Johnny,” was the victim of the crime committed by his wife, who found him occupying a room with one Maud Hunter, an inmate of the house. Hall and his wife had quarreled during the day, and when he closed up his day’s business, instead of returning to his rooms at the St. Charles Hotel, he started out on a spree. He finally wound up at 2 o’clock this morning by retiring at Roland’s house. His wife started out in search of him, and, in a hack, made a tour of the open saloons, but did not find him. She heard about 3 o’clock of his visit to Roland’s, and with the hack driver entered the house, representing to the driver that her husband had a large amount of money on his person, which she feared he would lose. After a number of inquiries regarding accommodations for the night, she inquired if a certain friend of hers was at the house, describing her husband as the friend. Learning that he was, she asked to see him, and was conducted to the door of his room. She knocked, and was admitted by the Hunter girl. Entering the room, she found her husband asleep in bed. She walked to his side, and after gazing at him in silence turned as if to leave. Lying on a bureau at the head of the bed was revolver, which Hall placed there after retiring. She saw it, and seizing the weapon, she pointed it full at the breast of the sleeping man and fired. The ball lodged in the right breast, producing instant death. The shock threw the body to the floor, the head and shoulders under the bed. Not a word had been spoken, and the shooting had taken place so unexpectedly that neither of the three witnesses could have interfered.
Mrs. Hall gave herself up, and has engaged attorneys for her defense and they refuse to allow her to be interviews or to testify at the Coroner’s inquest. This evening she regrets the deed, and acts as if partly insane.
The murdered man was noted as one of the most expert bunko steerers and confidence men of the day, and had traveled under a number of aliases. His mother lives in St. Joseph, Mo., and she was notified of his death.
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